Foil capping machine



March 12, 1940.

s. T. CARTER FOIL cnrme MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1938 INVENTOR. S c/my T Car/er 7 igid ATTORNEYS March 12, 1940.

Zia-- s. T. CARTER 2,193,618

FOIL CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. r 7? 621/22, I BY fi ATTORNEYS .March 12,1940. 5. 1-. CARTER FOIL CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 193.8.

7 Sheets-Sheet S INVENTOR. Sidney T Cart/er BY {oo/: 1 6am ATTORNEYS March 12, 1940.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 m T P .N e x F. T w .d

(ATTORNEYS March 12, 1940. 5 1-. CARTER 2,193,618

FOIL CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. \Y/c/ney TC rfer ATTORNEYS March 12, 1940. CARTER 2,193,518

FOIL CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, .1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS .:UNlTED STATES P Patented Mar. 12, 1940 2,193,6i8' I Y I FOIL CAPPING MACHINE SidneyT. Carter, NewjKensington,.Pa.,'assignor, by mesne assignments, to. Schenley' Distillers 1 Corporatioma corporation ofDelaware Application September is, 1928, Serial No. 229,669 1oo1aim (o1.-22e s) v My invention relates to a new and improved'foil capping machine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide mechanism which is automatically operated when a control handle. or other control device is actuated. g

. Anotherobject oithe invention is to provide improvedand reliable means'whereby the foiling head is moved to operative position prior to the; distortion thereof, and saidfoilirig head is restored'to normal shape by the release of the deforming force, before moving the foil'i'ng head away-from operative position Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind having a plurality or series ,of cylinders and-springs, whereby the parts Will be caused to move automatically'in desired su'c- 'cession, upon the operation of a control device, such asa valve or the like.. '29

vAnother object of the invention is the capsule or the foiling head. v

vAnother object of the invention is-to' provide will have a jeots of my invention is. intended generallyto explain the same without limiting itinany manner. g l is-a front elevation, partially *insection, showing the essential'parts of the improved device, utilizingamanual control.

Fig. 2is a side elevation of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partially in section, on

the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4 !l vof Fig. 2. This shows the parts innormal position, ready to receive the bottle. 1

Fig. .5 is similar to Fig. 4-, showing the foiling head lowered from the position shown'in Fig. 4. In this View the foiling head has not yet been deformed so as to press the foil against thehead and neck of the-bottle.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4, showing the parts in their final position for applying the foil to the bottle.

Fig.7 is a sectional view on the line l-l of of Fig.3. This shows certain of the control parts in the position 'operative' for restoring the parts to the position shownin Fig. '4.

to provide 'inechanism. which will operate without injuring" 'suitable yieldable material.

Fig. -8is a viewsimilar to Fig. 7 and showing certain control parts in the position operative to cause the foiling head to move fro'inthe position shown in- Fig. i to the position shown in Fig. 5

Fig. 10 is an end elevation, partially in section, on the linelB m o f liig. 9. 1

Fig. ll. is a top plan view,.partially in section, on the line li-H oiFig. 10 I i Fig. 12 is a sectional View on the line 52-5 2 of 15v I v Fig. 11. i

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on theline 3443 of Fig/12.

The device shofwn iniFigs. l-8 can be used in combination with any suitable machine which 2 v applies the capsules 1 to theheads of the bottles B, or else said capsuleaican be applied to the bottles 13 by hand. iThe capsules i are usually made of metal foilv but theycan be made of any As shown in Fig. l, duplicate devices can-be connected to tables. Band 3 which are mounted upon any suitable, support. An endless conveyor belt 4 may be provided for feeding the hottlesto the capping stations. The topiand bottom runs of the endless conveyorbelt are preferably horizontal'and plar'l'ar,"andsaid runs move oppositely in planes which are perpendicular to the plane-of the paper in Fig. l. The conveyor belt and. the

closed,asthey are well known per se The capping units C and Ca are identical in all mechanism for operating the sameare not dis- 1 respects.

As shown inFig. 3, each capping station is proyided with a longitudinally adjustable stop 5,

and with a laterally adjustable stop 6, so that the 7 bottle B can be located in proper position relative to the unit: C or Ca. i

As shown in Fig. 3, the longitudinally adjustable stop 5 is connected to the frame PM the machine by means of a clamping screw 1', whose shank extends through a longitudinally slotted part 8 of the frame F. The laterally adjustable stop 6 is likewise adjustably connected to the frame F by means o'f'a clamping screw 9.

emceconnected to the frame F by means of clamping screws lllb.

As shown in Fig. 4, the casing cylinder I0, which may be designated as the first cylinder, has a first piston I l movably located therein.

The bottom wall of the first piston I l abuts the top surface of the flange 28 of the enlarged head 30 of a second cylinder 28. The foiling head 25 is made of rubber or other suitable resilient and deformable material. The bottom of said foiling head 25 has a flange which abuts the underside of the flange 28. A metal washer 2? abuts the underside of the flange of the foiling head 25. A nut 26 can be screwed uponthe bottom end portion of the piston ll, so as' to clamp the washer and the flange of the foiling head to the flange 28 of the head 30.

Additional means may be provided for removably connecting the flange 28 of the head 30 to the first piston Il'.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the second cylinder 29 is vertically movable relative to the casing cylinder Hi. In Fig. 4 the second cylinder 29 is shown in its top position. The casing cylinder I0 is provided with a head l2 which is screwed into said casing cylinder Ill. The head I2 is provided with a stop flange lZa to which a resilient stopwasher l2b, made of rubber or other suitable material, is connected.

As shown in Fig. 4, the shoulder 30a of the eviinder 29 abuts the underside of said stop washer l2b, when cylinder 29 is in its top position.

The second cylinder 29 contains a suitable liquid such as glycerine or a suitable oil or other non-aqueous liquid. The use of water as a filling liquid is not excluded. The use of a compressible gas, instead of a non-compressible liquid is within the scope of the invention.

A piston cup 35, made of rubber or other suitable resilient material, is slidably located in the cylinder 29. This cup 35 has a snug or pistonlike fit in the cylinder 29. A spring 33 has its upper end abutting the cup 35. The lower end of the spring 33 abuts a metal washer 34 which is suitably connected to the inner wall of the shoulder 39a.

In the position shown in Fig. 4, the spring 33 is in the relaxed or unstressed condition, and the cup 35 is in its top position. In this position, the liquid in cylinder 29 is under no pressure in excess of the atmospheric pressure, so that foiling head 25 has its normal shape. The cylinder 29 is provided with a filling opening which is closed by means of a removable plug 3i, which is screwed into a suitable tapped opening of the cylinder 29.

A third cylinder M has its bottom end portion threaded and screwed into the cap l2 of the easing cylinder Hi. I

A cap I! is screwed into the top of the cylinder 14, the usual packing washer l9 being provided for air-tight connection. Another cap 20 is screwed into the cap l1, the usual packing washer 2! being provided for air-tight connection.

A piston 3'! is vertically movable within the cylinder 29. The cylinder 29 has a perforated cap 39 screwed thereon. A resilient stop washer M3 is connected to the underside of the cap 39.

As shown in Fig. 4, the piston 31 abuts said stop washer 48, when the piston 3! is in its top position. The piston 3'! is provided with a first stem-portion 38 which projects through the cap 39. This stem-portion 38 is integral with a reduced stem-portion 38a, and with a top stemportion 38b, which has a frusto-conical tip 380. The stem-portion 38w passes through a piston 15,

made of metal or other suitable material, and which is provided with a piston ring I6. The stem-portion 38a. is externally threaded and a nut 45 clamps the stem-portion 38a to the piston [5.

The piston 3'! is integral. with a spaced head or piston 31a- The resilient rubber ring-washer 36 abuts the upper surface of piston 31a, whose lower surface abuts the resilient inverted rubber cup 35.

A cotter-pin 46 locks the nut 45 to the stemportion 38a. The cap i! has a flange upon which a resilient washer 41 is located. A valve V is located within the cap l1. Said valve is held against substantial lateral movement by stemportion 381), from the position shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, the tip 38c projects partially into the upper part of the bore of valve V, so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of said valve. The stem-portion 38b is vertically movable relative to the valve V. Stem-portion 38 is guided in cap 39. The upper position of the valve V is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5.

An inlet pipe 22 is connected to the cap 20. This pipe 22 may be of the well known type which is used for conducting air or a liquid under pressure. Pipes of this kind have an inner flexible metal sheath and an outer covering of rubber or other flexible material. This metal sheath has an exposed-rigid coupling portion 24 at the end thereof.

A sealing washer 23a is located at the top of the cap 20. A nut 23 couples the pipe 22 to the cap 29, in conventional manner, as shown in 4 and 5.

As shown particularly in Fig. 5, the bore of the valve V is reduced at the top thereof. The stem-portion 38b fits snugly but not air-tight in the top reduced portion of the bore of the valve V. The clearance between the stem-portion 38b and the narrow portion of the bore of the valve V, may be comparatively slight, as for example about .010 of an inch. Stem-portion 38?) may fit as snugly as desired in the upper part of the bore of valve V, although said stem-portion always'moves freely relative to valve V, without any binding action.

As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. '7, each inlet pipe is connected to a valve casing 50. This valve casing 50 has a partition P which is shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8. This partition P is imperforate save for spaced ports 22a and 49a. The partition P therefore divides the valve casing 50 into two chambers.

An intake pipe 48 is connected to one of said chambers, by means of a port 4811. A source of compressed air (not shown) is connected to the intake pipe 48. A valve 5| is located in the chamber of the valve casing 50 in which the port 48a is located. The valve casing 50 has an integral extension 22b whose channel communicates with the port 22a. The inlet pipe 22 is suitably connected to the coupling member or fitting 22b.

An exhaust pipe 49, which leads to the outer atmosphere, is connected to the port 490..

As shown in Fig. 1, the pipes 48 of the units C and Ca may be connected to a common source of compressed air, and the exhaust pipes 49 of the respective units may have a common outlet to the atmosphere.

The valve 56 has a bearing in a bore of the wall of the valve casing 50. Said valve 5| has a projection which extends through said bore of the wall of the valve casing 56, and a handle H is connected to said extension of the valve.

i an arcuate groove 54 whose center is located on the axis th.. The ends of said groove 55 are spaced from the ends of the valve liI.

A spring 52 maintains the valve EI in the normal position illustrated in Fig. '7. In said position, the ports to and G9; are in communication through the groove 54 so that the pipe 22 communicates with the outer atmosphere through the respective pipe 49 and the pressure within the capping unit'is therefore the normal atmospheric pressure. In said normal position the ports 22a and 4% are sealed by valve 5| from the chamber in which port'llzla is located.

When the handle H is moved from the normal position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 8, compressed air can pass through the port 22a as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 8 so that the device is operated by means of the compressed air. A suitable stop maintains the handle H and the valve 5I in the normal position shown in Fig. T, against the force of the tension spring 52.

Asshown in Figs. 4-6, an outer compression spring GI hasits upper end abutting the piston I5. The lower end of said outer compression spring gill abuts the top surface of the flange I2a.

An inner compression spring 42 has its upper end abutting the piston 95, and its lower end abuts the flange 39a of the cap 39.

In order to minimize the wear of the toiling head 25, this is provided with a metallic insert 32 which has a disc-shaped head and a frustoconical shank. The insert 32 can be made of metal or other suitable rigid material and it is provided with a central tapped bore. A resilient washer 250., made of rubber or other suitable material, can be sprung over the shank of the insert This washer 25a has a tight fit against the inner frusto-conical wall of the foiling head 25, so as to keep the insert 32 in position. The head of the insert 32 can be forced into a recess which is provided in the resilient material of the roiling head 25. A suitable tool can engage the tapped bore of the insert 32, in order to apply or to remove the same. 1

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 1-8, is as follows:

When the valve 5! is in the normal position shown in Fig. 7, the parts of the capping unit are in the corresponding normal positions shown in Fig. 4.

Any suitable fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, is admitted into cap 211 by moving valve 5! to the position'shown in Fig. 8. The parts are first moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The compressed air in cap it presses valve V downwardly, sealing its bottom face against the resilient washer '57. Hence the compressed air which enters the third cylinder M must pass through the close clearance between the stem-portion 38b and the bore of the valve V.

The size of this clearance controls the speed at which the compressed air enters the third cylinder I4. It is desirable to control the speed of this change in relative positions because if the compressed air enters the third cylinder M too rapidly whilethe parts are thus moved, the device would operate like a hammer.

If the compressed air enters the cylinder 14 too slowly, theoperation of the device is unneces-- sarily delayed.

When piston I5 is moved downwardly, the spring 42 moves the second cylinder 29 in unison with the piston l5, since the upper end of the spring 42 abuts the piston I5 and the lower end of said spring abuts the flange Eta of the cap 39 of the second cylinder 29. v The second cylinder 28 is connected rigidly to the first piston It by means of the head 3% and the nut 25. The second cylinder 29 and the'first piston lI therefore move downwardly in unison until the resilient washer 43 abuts the flange .lfia of the head I2, which is fixed rigidly to the sta tionary casing cylinder Ill. The spring i2 is sufficiently stiff to cause the piston I5 and the second cylinder 29 to move in unison, to their positions shown in Fig. 5, without any substantial deformation of said spring 42.

In Fig. 5 the forming head 25 is in its final position relative to bottle 13 and said head '25 is ready to shape the capsule. The frusto-conicai tip 380 has cleared the bore of valve V, so that the compressed air can rapidly enter the third cylinder Id. The pressure in cylinder i 4 is therefore now increased much more rapidly than during the movement of the parts to the position shown in Fig. 5. I

The additional downward movement of the piston 65 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6 compresses the spring 42, since the downward movement of the second cylinder 29 is now stopped by the flange I2a, and the resilient washer 43.

Since the pistons 15 and 37 are rigidly connected to each other and the second cylinder 29 is now held stationary, pressure is exerted on the liquid in the second cylinder 2.! by means of the cup 35, while piston I 5 moves from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6, thus deforming the foiling head 25 and squeezing the capsule I tightly against the bottle,as shown in Fig. 6. The second cylinder 29 is completely filled with liquid up to the cup 35 and it is closed by the cup 35 and by the foiling head 25. The cup 35 always abuts, or it is close to the head 31a which is provided at the bottom of stem 38. Likewise the pressure per unit of area which is exerted on the liquid in the cylinderifi, while piston I5 moves from the posi tion of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6, is greater than the'pressure per unit of area of the com-- pressed air on the piston I 5, since the area of the cup 35 and of the piston S'l is less than the area of the piston I5.

After the capsule I has been finally shaped, the valve 5| is then moved to its position shown in Fig. '7, thus allowing the compressed air in the third cylinder M to exhaust into the outer atmosphere. The parts thereupon first move from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 5, under the force of springs 42 and M, so that thefoiling head then assumes its normal shape, thus releasing the pressure on the capsule I and releasing the bottle.

The parts then move to the position shown in Fig. 4, under the force of actuating spring ii alone, since spring 42 is under little or no compression in the position of Fig. 5, so that the machine is ready to cap the next bottle. While type of packing washers, which are well-known. Each of them seals only in one direction. Since no liquid must be permitted to escape from the cylinder 29, and since no air or lubricating oil should enter said cylinder 29, said washers are placed in opposite working positions which makes them eflective in opposite directions. This makes it impossible for any liquid or gas to enter the cylinder 29 or for any liquid to escape from the cylinder 29. In the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the liquid in the cylinder 29 is under normal atmospheric pressure. The entire operation is thus controlled by means of the valve shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and since the entire machine is actuated by compressed air, no damage occurs if the operator does not place the bottle directly under the foiling head.

If the member 26 should strike the top of the bottle, this will take place before piston l5 is in the position of Fig. 5. This stops the movement of the first piston l I and of the second cylinder 29 so that the foiling head 25 will deform upon further downward movement of the piston l5 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 5. However the air pressure will not increase to a point where the bottle will be broken. Likewise the blow on the bottle will be a hght one, because piston I 5 has been moving slowly. When a bottle has been thus misplaced, the operator exhausts the air from the third cylinder i l, and the bottle is then reset to proper position.

In the second embodiment, the capping units have the same construction as in the first embodimerit. As shown in Fig. 10, said units have pipes and 221) which have the same function as pipe 22. These pipes 22a and 221) are connected to a valve-casing 70. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, casing is provided at opposite sides thereof with covers H and Na. These covers are connected to casing 10 by screws, gaskets being provided to make tight seals.

As shown in Fig. 11, a liquid or a gas under pressure is supplied through inlet pipe 12, to the space between valve-casing 2'0 and. cover 5 l. The valve-casing 10 has an exhaust pipe 13.

A horizontal turnable spindle is mounted in a sleeve-bearing of valve-casing 18. This spindle has a valve-head '15, which is cupshaped, and which has a flange 15f. A spring it maintains flange 15) in contact with the adjacent wall of casing 10. Said adjacent wall has six ports, Ha, Tlb, llc, 'l'ld, He, and Hf. The four ports Ha, T'lb, Nd and Tie have their centers equidistant from the axis of spindle l4, and said centers are separated by arcs of The ports 11c and Hf have their centers equidistant from said spindle and spaced by an arc of 180.

Said flange 15] has a major portion of continuous annular shape of equal radius through an arc of 270, and it has a minor segment of 90 between the points 15a and 15b. Said minor segment has a smaller radius than the major portion of said flange.

In the position shown in Fig. 13, the flange 15 covers the port and it uncovers the diametrically opposite port 11 As the valve spindle M is turned, the flange 75f alternately covers and uncovers said ports 11 and Tie, one of said ports always being closed when the other is open. The other four ports Ila, 1Tb. Nd and He always communicate with each other through the interior annular space of the head 15. These four ports are therefore always in communication with the annular chamber of the valve-casing 70, which is located around the sleeve-bearing of spindle l4.

The port 11f is in permanent communication with the bore 18 of the valve casing 10, and the port 'llc communicates permanently with the bore 19 of said valve casing Ill. Therefore, when the port 11 is uncovered by the flange 153, the air under pressure which enters through the pipe 72 will pass tlnough said port 'llf into the bore 18 and into the pipe 22a.

When the valve head 15 has been turned so that its flange 15f covers the port Elf and uncovers the port 110, the compressed air is supplied through port 'Il'c to the bore 19 and to the pipe 221).

Therefore the respective units will be operated alternately when the spindle I4 is turned.

The valve spindle I4 is turned continuously by means of a suitable electric motor M, whose shaft 80 is releasably connected to the spindle M by a suitable coupling C. The speed of rotation of the shaft 80 is regulated so that each of the capping units can perform its pressure stroke, in the manner stated in connection with the first embodiment, while air under pressure is supplied thereto.

The shaft 80 can turn thirty to sixty revolutions per minute, although this can be regulated, depending upon the speed at which the bottles are to be capped. The maximum speed is about bottles per minute.

The exhaust stroke of each capping unit is completed during the period in which its respective port He or 71 is covered by the flange 15f. During said period, the air cannot escape from the unit through its respective port 71 or 110. Therefore, and as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 11- 3, the air passes from the respective unit through the annular space of the cupshaped head 75 to the exhaust pipe 13. The space between the valve casing 10 and its cover H is provided with a relief pipe 8|, which has a manually operable valve 82 for draining any excess water and oil from the air supplied.

The valve casing Hi can also be provided with a supplemental exhaust pipe 83, which has a manually controlled valve 84.

The inlet pipe 12 is provided with the usually manually controlled valve 85. The apparatus can also be provided with relief valve 86, which also acts as a means of lubrication.

As shown in Fig. 9, the second embodiment is provided with a table 81. A frame 88 which is integral with the frames of the capping units is vertically adjusted by means of threaded standars 88a and turnable nut-members 89.

As shown in Fig. 11, the motor M is controlled by means of a switch 90. As shown in Fig. 9, the power cable of the motor is led through a conduit 9 l While I have shown preferred embodiments of the invention, it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

Whenever any part is referred to by specific mechanical description in the claims, the claims cover parts having the same essential mode of operation.

For convenience the claims refer to the vertical position of the capping unit illustrated in the drawings, but the capping unit may be mounted so as to operate in any plane. The member H has been referred to as a piston but it operates essentially as a plunger-guide, in order to guide the movement of the cylinder 29. Therefore the member I I may be omitted or it may be replaced by any suitable type of guide.

' Likewise the invention covers numerous valuable sub-combinations which are not operative per se and which can be used in'capping units which differ widely from the preferred embodimcnt disclosed herein.

While the use of a liquid for deforming the failing head is preferred to the use of a gas, the use of a gasis not excluded.

In its broadest aspect, the invention includes a capping cylinder 29 which is movable to-andfro in a. path of predetermined length, in combination with. automatic means which apply pressure to the deformable head 25' only after the capping .cylinder has completed its operative stroke to the, positicnshown in Fig. 5, and said means automatically release the pressure upon saiddeformable head 25' before the capping cylinderis moved away from the operative position shown in Fig. .5.

Whenever "means are referred to in the claims, this term is intended to cover the corresponding element or." elements specifically disclosed herein, plus the broadest equivalents to which the invention is entitled in view of the prior art.

By suitably designing the valve of the second embodiment, said valve may control three or more, capping units. Hence, whenever I refer in theclaims-to a valve which controls a pair of capping units, I' include machines in which the valve controls more than two capping units.

For. convenience,- the parts have been referred to b-y'reference numerals in some of the claims. The use of such reference numerals is not a limitation.

I claim:

1. A foil, capping-device comprising a second cylinder which is mounted for vertical movement,

a deformable foiling head connected to the mouth of said second cylinder, said second cylindercontaining a fluid which contacts with the inner; wallv of said foiling head, a second piston located in the second cylinder above saidfoiling head; the downward movement of said second piston relative to the second cylinder being adapted to-subject the fluid in the second cylinder topressure and to deform the foiling head, the second cylinder having a second cap, the secondv piston having a vertical stem which extends mcvably through said cap, a third piston connected to said stem above the second cap and intermediate the ends of said stem, a third and stationary cylinder in which the third piston is located, the third cylinder having a third cap whichis provided with a bore through which air under pressure can be admitted into the third cylinder to rnove the third piston downwardly in unisonwith the second piston, the stem of the second piston having a stem portion which is located in said bore when the above-mentioned parts arein normal position, the third cap having a flange, aqvalve'located within the'bore of the third cap and supported by said flange, said valve being vertically movable relative to the third t cap, SaidfVa1Ve having a vertical bore comprising its upper end abutting the underside of the third piston and having its lower end abutting a stop, a secondsp-ring having its upper end abutting the-underside of the third piston and having its lower end abutting the second cylinder, said stemportion having a smaller horizontal cross-section than the horizontal cross-section of the third cylinder, said stem-portion being located below the top bore portion when the foiling headis de- 5 formed by the pressure of the fluid in the sec- 0nd cylinder, the top surface of the second piston abutting the underside of the cap of the second cylinder when the parts are in their normal positions. 1

2. In a foil capping-device, a capping cylinder,

a deformable foiling head connected to the mouth of said capping cylinder, said capping cyl-' inder containing a fluid which deforms said foiling head when the fluid is subjected to pressure, a piston located in said capping cylinder and movable relative to said capping cylinder, said cap-ping cylinder being mounted for movement back-ancl-forth in 'a predetermined path to an operative position and to a second position which is spaced from said operative position, said piston being movable in said capping cylinder in a direction parallel tosaid path, a fluid-actuated deviceconnected to said piston and adapted to actuate said piston relative to said cylinder so as to. increase the pressure of the fiuid in said capping cylinder and to deform said foiling head, spring-meanslocated between said fluid-actuated device and said capping cylinder, said spring means being. constructed to move the capping cylinder in unison with its piston until the capping cylinder has been moved to operative position so that the foiling head is not deformed until said capping cylinder has been moved to operative position.

3. In a foil capping device, a capping cylinder, a deformable foiling head connected to the mouth of said capping cylinder, said capping cylinder containing a fluid which deforms said foiling head when the fluid is subjected to pressure, a piston located in said capping cylinder and movable relative to said capping cylinder, said. capping cylinder being mounted for movement backand-forth in a predetermined path to an operative position and to a second position which is spaced from said operative position, said piston being movable in said capping cylinder in a direction parallel to said path, a fluid-actuated device connected to said piston and adapted to actuate said piston relative to said cylinder so as :5 to increase the pressure of the fluid in said capping cylinder and to deform said foiling head, spring-means located between said fluid-actuated device and said capping cylinder, said spring means being constructed to move the capping cylinder in unison with its piston until the capping cylinder has been moved to operative position so that theioiling head is not deiormed until said capping cylinder has been moved to operative position, spring means located and constructed to move the fluid-actuated device in a direction away from said foiling-head, additional" spring means located and constructed to move the piston in a direction. away from said failing head.

4. In afoil capping-device, a second cylinder 23 mounted for vertical movement downwardly to an operative'position' and upwardly away from said operative position, a deformable foiling head 25 having a normal shape and connected to the '70 mouth of said second cylinder, said second cylinder 29 containing'a fluid which deforms said foiling head from said'normal shape when the fluid is subjected to pressure, a second piston 37a locatedifin said second'cylinder 28 and mov- '75.

able downwardly in and relative to said second cylinder 29 to subject said fluid to pressure, actuating means adapted to move the second cylinder Z9 upwardly in unison with the second piston S'Ia when the second piston 31a is in such position in said second cylinder 29 that the foiling head 25 is in normal shape, said second piston having a stem 38 having a projecting portion which projects upwardly from the second cylinder 29, a third piston I5 connected to said stem 33 above the second cylinder 29, a third cylinder It in which said third piston I5 is located, means adapted to supply a fluid under pressure to the third cylinder I l and also to relieve the pressure in the third cylinder I4, said third piston I5 being moved downwardly when fluid under pressure is supplied to said third cylinder I4, and means to move the third piston I5 upwardly when the pressure in the third cylinder I4 is relieved.

5. In a foil capping-device, a second cylinder mounted for vertical movement downwardly to an operative position and upwardly away from said operative position, a deformable foiling head having a normal shape and connected to the mouth of said second cylinder, said second cylinder containing a fluid which deforms said foiling head from said normal shape when the fluid is subjected to pressure, a second piston located in said second cylinder and movable downwardly in and relative to said second cylinder to subject said fluid to pressure, actuating means adapted to move the second cylinder upwardly in unison with the second piston when the second piston is in such position in said second cylinder that the foiling head is in normal shape, said second piston having a stem having a projecting portion which projects upwardly from the second cylinder, a third piston connected to said stem above the second cylinder, a third cylinder in which said third piston is located, means adapted to supply a fluid under pressure to the third cylinder and also to relieve the pressure in the third cylinder, said third piston being moved downwardly when fluid under pressure is supplied to said third cylinder, and means to move the third piston upwardly when the pressure in the third cylinder is relieved.

6. In a foil capping-device, a second cylinder 28 mounted for vertical movement downwardly to an operative position and upwardly away from said operative position, a deformable foiling head 25 having a normal shape and connected to the mouth of said second cylinder 29, said second cylinder 29 containing a fluid which deforms said toiling head 25 from said normal shape when the fluid is subjected to pressure, a second piston 31a located in said second cylinder 29 and movable downwardly in and relative to said second cylinder 29 to subject said fluid to pressure, means adapted to move the second cylinder 29 upwardly in unison with the second piston 31a when the second piston 51a is in such position in said second cylinder 28 that the foiling head 25 is in normal shape, said second piston 31a having a stem 38 having a projecting portion which projects upwardly from the second cylinder, a third piston I5 connected to said stem above the second cylinder 23, a third cylinder I4 in which said third piston I5 is located, means adapted to supply a fluid under pressure to the third cylinder I and also to relieve the pressure in the third cylinder HI, said third piston I5 being moved downwardly when fluid under pressure is supplied to said third cylinder I4, and spring means to move the third piston I5 upwardly when the pressure in the third cylinder I I is relieved, said' spring means comprising a first spring 4| whose upper end abuts the underside of the third piston I 5 and whose lower end abuts a fixed stop, and a second spring 42 whose upper end abuts the underside of the third piston I5 and whose lower end operatively abuts the second cylinder 29.

7. In a foil capping-device, a second cylinder mounted for vertical movement downwardly to an operative position and upwardly away from said operative position, a deformable foiling head having a normal shape and connected to the mouth of said second cylinder, said second cylinder containing a fluid which deforms said foiling head from said normal shape when the fluid is subjected to pressure, a second piston located in said second cylinder and movable downwardly in and relative to said second cylinder to subject said fluid to pressure, means adapted to move the second cylinder upwardly in unison with the second piston when the second piston is in such position in said second cylinder that the foiling head is in normal shape, said second piston having a stem having a projecting portion which projects upwardly from the second cylinder, a third piston connected to said stem above the second cylinder, a third cylinder in which said third piston is located, means adapted to supply a fluid under pressure to the third cylinder and also to relieve the pressure in the third cylinder, said third piston being moved downwardly when fluid under pressure is supplied to said third cylinder, and means to move the second piston upwardly when the pressure in the second cylinder is relieved, and control means adapted to control the admission of fluid under pressure into the third cylinder to actuate the third piston downwardly so as to subject said third piston to an initial pressure while the third piston and the second cylinder move downwardly in unison, and then to subject the third piston to a greater pressure after the second cylinder has reached its operative position.

8. In a foil capping-device, a capping cylinder, a deformable foiling head connected to the mouth of said capping cylinder, said capping cylinder containing a fluid which deforms said foiling head when the fluid is subjected to pressure, said capping cylinder being mounted for downward vertical movement to an operative position and for an upward vertical movement away from said operative position, a piston located in said capping cylinder, spring means mounted and adapted to cause the capping cylinder to move downwardly in unison with said piston to the operative position of said capping cylinder when the piston is downwardly actuated, pneumatic means operative to move said piston downwardly so as to move the capping cylinder downwardly to operative position and then to continue the downward movement of the piston so as to subject the fluid to pressure, means adapted to cause the capping cylinder and the piston to move upwardly in unison after the piston has moved upwardly relative to the cylinder to an extent suflicient to relieve the pressure on said fluid.

9. A foil-capping machine, comprising a pair of capping units, each unit comprising a capping cylinder having a deformable foiling head connected to its mouth and containing a fluid which deforms said roiling head when the fluid is subjected to pressure, each capping-cylinder being mounted for movement back-and-forth in a predetermined path to an operative position and to a second position which is spaced from said operative position, means operated by fluid under pressure and adapted to move said capping cylinders to. their respective operative positions and to exert pressure upon the fluid in said capping cylinders, return means adapted to move said capping cylinders back to their second positions, each unit having a conduit connected thereto through which fluid under pressure is supplied to operate said means and through which said'fluid can be exhausted to permit said return means to operate, a valve-device connected to said conduits, said valve having an inlet for admitting fluid under pressure and also having an outlet for relieving the pressure in said means, said valve-device having a movable valve which is adapted to connect said inlet to one of said conduits to the other conduit in all positions of said valve.

10. A foil-capping machine, comprising a pair of capping units, each unit comprising a capping cylinder having a deformable foiling head connected to its mouth and containing a fluid which deforms said foiling head when the fluid is subjeoted to pressure, each capping-cylinder being mounted for movement back-and-forth in a predetermined path to an operative position'andv to a second position which is spaced from said operative position, means operated by fluid under pressure and adapted to move said capping cylinders to their respective operative positions and to exert pressure upon the fluid in said capping cylinders, return means adapted to move said capping cylinders back to their second positions, each unit having a conduit connected thereto through which fluid under pressure is supplied to operate said means and through which said fluid can be exhausted to permit said return means to operate, a valve-device comprising a valve-casing having an imperforate wall and an opposed perforated Wall, a turnable spindle extending through said walls, said valve-casing having an annular chamber around'said spindle, said perforated wall having a pair of diametrically opposed parts, said conduits being connected to said annular chamber, said spindle having a head having a flange which is shaped to close one of said ports and. to open the other'said ports in all positions of said flange, said head being located in an auxiliary chamber which has an inlet for liquid under pressure, said annular chamber having an outlet, said perforated wall having additional ports which communicate with said annular chamber, said additional ports being adapted to connect the conduit whose diametrically opposed port is closed by said flange, to said annular chamber, said additional ports being located inwardly of said flange.

SIDNEY T. CARTER. 

